Cone Affinity

Today was a momentous day. Today, I got on my bike and rode it. I didn't fall off, not even once, and I didn't hit anything that would be worse off for having been hit. I did hit a basketball post. And a cone. Several cones. In fact, I hit the cones so many times that my husband decided I have cone affinity.

We started off with just, well, going. I managed the straight line bit reasonably well. Then I progressed to turning left, which seemed quite natural - so much so that I started going round in nice tight circles. Then I tried turning right. In the grand scheme of things, this is quite an important skill. Not being able to turn right either requires one to dismount at every right turn and go across the pedestrian crossing, or it means that one's routes are somewhat tedious. I imagine it might also lead to a certain lopsidedness of muscles that might mean finding well-fitting Lycra is difficult (although this may provide a reasonable excuse for not wearing Lycra, which somewhat enhances the appeal of not being able to turn right). Needless to say, I could not turn right. By the end of the session, I could turn right, but not without wobbling quite a lot, so this is definitely something I need to practise.

My husband was so impressed with my skills that he set out a line of three traffic cones next to a basketball post. This is where it really started to go a bit Pete Tong. Weaving in and out of the cones is not my forte; running over the edges of them and then kicking them apparently is.

The important thing is, I've made a start. I think perhaps I can ride a bike after all. I can even change gear (I managed one up and one down!) And I didn't fall off!


If you think my efforts deserve a few pennies for British Heart Foundation, please click on the Justgiving link on the right hand side of the page. Oh, and don't forget to share your thoughts on Lycra in the poll below!